Why are eggs speckled?

[wishingon]

Junebuggena, I'm assuming that it's somewhat normal? It's not a result of an illness or anything?

 

[junebuggena]

Not illness. Just something that happens.

 

[wishingon]

Thank you!

 

[Kirbyroberts]

Are the speckles anything to be worried about? Excess bloom or lack of "coating" isn't a sign of a health issue?

 

[aart]

'Speckled' eggs can happen for several different reasons...very few, if any, of which are a 'problem'.

Can be caused by:
Excess or uneven pigment coating.
Excess or uneven cuticle(bloom).
Excess calcium deposits.
Porous eggs can appear speckled.
Some birds lay them consistently, some only once in awhile.

The pigment or bloom can change appearance when wet, then change back when dry again.

As long as bird is getting a good diet and is healthy in every other way, it is no cause for concern.

 

[kmisscluck]

Does the excess calcium mean they are getting too much ? I have one that lays pretty speckled eggs daily. She is lavender Orpington so is not “supposed” to according to breed. She lays one every day for the last year and looks healthy. We have well water though that is really hard so I’ve wondered if that can cause them health issues

 

[aart]

Does the excess calcium mean they are getting too much ?

Not necessarily...some birds process calcium differently.
See the post above yours, there are different kinds of speckles,
not all caused by excess calcium

 

[MixedFlock23]

White spots can also be excess bloom(cuticle) as well as calcium deposits or thin and 'spotty' color coating.
Speckles can vary from day to day in some birds, some birds only produce them once in a while.

I came searching for this answer! I only have 8 pullets... I have been getting pullet eggs for just over two weeks now. I’m not sure who or how many are laying. I get 1-3 pullet eggs per day. I’ve gathered all the pullet eggs from this month together and sorted them by color including speckles and I found 7 different colors/color combinations. But I don’t think my blue layer or my tinted layer or my Jersey giant are laying yet... so I came searching to see if blooms/speckles could change in the same bird day to day.

'Speckled' eggs can happen for several different reasons...very few, if any, of which are a 'problem'.

Can be caused by:
Excess or uneven pigment coating.
Excess or uneven cuticle(bloom).
Excess calcium deposits.
Porous eggs can appear speckled.
Some birds lay them consistently, some only once in awhile.

The pigment or bloom can change appearance when wet, then change back when dry again.

As long as bird is getting a good diet and is healthy in every other way, it is no cause for concern.

This is very informative! Thank you, aart.

Here’s what I’ve collected... dry they look like 7 different layers/egg colors. After I washed them, it looks like I only have 3 varieties/layers! So maybe I have a talented pullet who has 5 bloom colors (brown, purplish, white, taupe, & the option of clear bloom as well)! Did these very different 5 eggs really come from one pullet? (My Showgirl laid the one I marked SG. I saw it happened in person.) I’m going to watch my chicken cam closer and see if I can pinpoint who is laying which eggs.

 

[Hensintexas]

We have two Cornish X (yes!) who lay speckled eggs about every other day. I honestly didn’t expect them to lay eggs at all, but they do! Beautiful, huge, cream colored eggs with rusty speckles. They’re even more lovely when I rinse them off. Wish I could send pics! I can when new phone is up and running.